Cradle



(No Model.)

J. H. WIGGERS.

CRADLE.

No. 409,260. Patented Aug. 20, 188 9.

Elgar UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. IVIGGERS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

CRADLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,260, dated August 20, 1889.

Serial No. 307,531. (No model.)

' T aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN H. \VIGGERS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cradles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of cradles in which the body is arranged to rock upon a stationary platform, and particularly to means for locking the rocking member, so that the rocking cradle may be readily changed to a stationary crib. Its object is a cheap reliable locking device, which may be readily applied to any of the cradles now in common use.

The invention will be first fully described in connection with the accompanying drawin gs, and will then be particularly referred to and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which like parts are represented by similar referenceletters wherever they occur throughout the various views, Figure 1 is an end elevation of a cradle provided with my improvements, having the body locked to the platform. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, taken through line a; to. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view taken in the same plane as Fig. 2, but with the locking device thrown off, so as to permit the cradle to be rocked.

The body or rocking member A and platform B are of ordinary construction, and may be coupled together by any of the well-known rocker attachments.

My improvements may be applied to either the head or foot of the cradle. These will now be described. Underneath the lower end rails a, at one end of the cradle, is journaled a rock-shaft O in bearings c, which are secured to the lower edge of the rail. Upon this shaft adjacent to its bearings are secured two hooked dogs D, the hooked ends of which are arranged to enter metal sockets e, which are let into the inside face of the ornamental end piece E, which is secured to the end of the base or platform B. One of these shieldpioces E is secured at each end of the cradle for the double purpose of preventing end motion of the cradle-body and to prevent children from getting their fingers under the is a projection g, which engages the tooth f of ratchet F after or about the time the tooth f is released from the lower end of the rod, and in the farther descent of the rod G carries the shaft farther around until the dogs D reach the position shown in Fig. 3. When the rod G reaches this position, its projection g is thrown under the lower edge of the loopguide g by the spring 11 and the rod locked in its lower position, thus holding the dogs D disengaged, so as to allow the cradle to be rocked. When it is desired to lock the rocking member A to the base 13, the rod G is pressed inward, compressing the spring l-I, so as to free the projection g from the guide g Then by drawing the rod G up, by taking hold of the projection 9 the ratchet F is released and the dogs D will fall by gravity into their sockets c. The rod G has an intermediate link or loop 9', through which a screw g passes into the cradle end, serving as the lowerguide for the rod, and also to limit its movements either up or down.

It is evident that the metal sockets 6 may be dispensed with, as they are only added for strength or to prevent the wood from splitting, and it is also evident that many more mechanical changes in the form and location of the parts may be made after an examination of my structure; hence I desire it to be understood that I consider all mere mechanical modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

.W hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the platform, the rocking member mounted thereon, a rockshaft j ournaled to the rocking member, dogs D and ratchets F, secured upon said shaft, sockets in the base to receive the ends of said dogs, and a vertically-sliding red, as G, to engage said ratchet, rotate and release said shaft for the purpose of locking the base and rocking member, or releasing the rocker from the base, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a cradle or platform-rocker 0f the character described, the combination of a rockshaft secured to the rocking member and carrying dogs to engage sockets upon the platform, a Vertically-sliding rod sliding in guides secured to the rocker and adapted to rotate the shaft When depressed and release the dogs from the base and to release the said shaft when drawn up, and thus allow the said dogs to drop into their sockets in the base, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a cradle of the character described, the combination, substantially as specified, of the rocker A, the base B, mounted thereon, the shield E, secured to the base and having the sockets e, the rock-shaft O, journaled in bearings secured to the rocker A, the dogs D, ratchet F, secured upon said shaft, and the vertically-sliding 'tappet-rod G, arranged on the end of the rocker-frame in a position to engage the said ratchet F, for the pn rpose set forth.

4. The combination, substantially as specified, of the platform and rocking member, the shield E, secured to the platform and extending above the curved rocker, the metal sockets 6 let into said piece E, the shaft 0, the dogs D, and ratchets F f f, secured upon said shaft, the rod G, having projections g g, the guide 9 screw 9 and spring H, for the purpose set forth.

JOHN II. WIGGERS.

Witnesses:

FRANK. L. MILLWARD, MARY O. MURRAY. 

